Greece Closes Port To Macedonia

February 16, 1994

Angered at Macedonia's refusal to change its name, Greece on Wednesday suspended diplomatic relations with the former Yugoslav republic and cut off its main trade route. Greece declared the northern port of Salonica off-limits to Macedonian ships until Macedonia stops using that name. Greece says the name suggests Macedonia has designs on the northern Greek province of the same name and has demanded Macedonia guarantee it will make no claim on Greek territory. Salonica, 40 miles south of Macedonia's border, is a principal trade route for Macedonia through which the landlocked country gets all its fuel.